Crowd Control Barricade FAQs

Choosing the right crowd control barricade depends on how and where it will be used. Below are answers to common questions about barricade sizes, foot styles, connections, shipping, replacement parts, purchasing and renting.

For help with a specific application, call Friedrichs at 1-800-394-9294.

Which crowd control barricade do I need?

Friedrichs manufactures crowd control barricades in multiple lengths, heights, foot styles and coupling configurations. The best model depends on your application, surface conditions, existing barricade inventory, transportation requirements and the level of crowd control required.

The primary considerations are length, height, coupling system and foot style. The questions below explain each of these choices in more detail.

What length crowd control barricade should I get?

Longer barricades generally provide the best value per linear foot and require fewer individual barricades to set up a long run. Our traditional 8-foot barricades are actually approximately 8' 7" long.

Shorter 4-foot and 6-foot barricades can be useful at the ends of a barricade line or anywhere a more precise total length is needed. For example, a 20-foot opening could be closed using two 8-foot barricades and one 4-foot barricade.

Longer barricades can also reduce setup and handling time. A 500-foot barricade run requires approximately 60 of our 8-foot barricades compared with approximately 79 of our 6-foot barricades.

What height crowd control barricade should I get?

Our standard crowd control barricades are approximately 43 inches high and are appropriate for many event, municipal, police and pedestrian-control applications.

For applications requiring a taller or more substantial barrier, Friedrichs also manufactures high-security models including the F-48 at approximately 48 inches high and the F-72 at approximately 72 inches high.

Taller barricades contain substantially more material and are heavier than standard models. The F-72 is commonly manufactured in shorter lengths such as 4-foot and 6-foot configurations to make handling and transportation easier.

What barricade coupling or hooking mechanism should I get?

Our traditional F2 coupling system is designed so connected barricades interlock at a controlled angle and cannot simply be disconnected while standing in a straight barricade line. This helps prevent spectators from easily separating the barricades to create an opening.

Other coupling configurations are available when compatibility with an existing barricade inventory is important. A different coupling system can also help distinguish one organization's barricades from those belonging to another agency or barricade supplier operating in the same area.

If you need new barricades to connect with an existing inventory, please call 1-800-394-9294 with information about your current barricades so we can help determine the appropriate coupling configuration.

Which barricade foot style should I use?

Flat Feet

Flat feet provide a durable, low-profile footprint and are particularly useful when barricades are being used to funnel and direct pedestrian traffic. Their low profile makes them less obtrusive around pedestrian areas.

For applications where the barricades run parallel to pedestrian traffic, painting the feet a high-visibility color such as yellow can also help make the foot location more noticeable.

Bridge Feet

Traditional bridge or round feet perform particularly well on uneven terrain and softer surfaces such as grass. Because the feet extend farther from the barricade, they can be more vulnerable to damage from vehicles passing too close to the barricade line.

Bridge feet are generally not the preferred choice for parallel pedestrian traffic or delicate interior flooring.

Flat Feet with Rubber Stoppers

Rubber stoppers can help protect interior flooring and provide additional resistance to sliding when a barricade is pushed.

Roller Feet

Roller feet are useful when barricades need to be moved or repositioned frequently. One end of the barricade can be lifted while the opposite end rolls on the wheeled foot, reducing the physical effort required to move it.

Can I buy replacement feet for Friedrichs barricades?

Yes. Replacement feet are available for Friedrichs barricades equipped with bolt-on feet, including models such as the F2-B and F2-B-FF. If a foot becomes damaged or worn, it can be replaced without replacing the entire barricade.

Contact Friedrichs or call 1-800-394-9294 for replacement feet and parts.

Can Friedrichs make replacement feet for other brands of barricades?

Yes. Friedrichs can manufacture replacement feet for virtually any crowd control barricade model on the market.

If replacement parts are no longer available from the original manufacturer or supplier, contact us with information about your existing barricades. Dimensions, photographs or a sample foot can help us determine the appropriate replacement configuration.

Will replacement parts be available for my barricades in the future?

Friedrichs Custom Manufacturing has been in business since 1938. Our long history gives customers confidence that they are purchasing barricades from an established American manufacturer that can continue supporting its products with replacement parts.

Replacement-part availability is an important consideration when purchasing commercial crowd control equipment. If a supplier disappears or stops supporting a particular imported barricade, compatible replacement feet and other components may become difficult to obtain.

Are Friedrichs crowd control barricades made in the USA?

Yes. Friedrichs steel crowd control barricades are manufactured in the United States. Friedrichs Custom Manufacturing has been manufacturing products in America since 1938.

Should I buy or rent crowd control barricades?

Purchasing barricades generally makes sense for customers who use similar quantities several times throughout the year. However, many customers find that a combination of owning and renting barricades provides the best solution.

For example, an organization might own 50 barricades for recurring events throughout the year but require several hundred—or even several thousand— additional barricades for one large annual event. In that situation, owning the regularly used inventory and renting the additional barricades when needed can provide an efficient balance.

Storage and maintenance costs should also be considered. In cities and other locations where warehouse space, transportation and handling costs are at a premium, renting barricades may make more sense than maintaining a large permanent inventory.

Learn about buying barricades   |   Learn about barricade rentals

What makes a crowd control barricade heavy duty?

The term "heavy duty" is used by many barricade suppliers, but the label itself does not tell you how substantially a barricade is built. One of the easiest ways to compare steel barricades is to look at their actual weight, dimensions and construction specifications.

Friedrichs standard heavy-duty steel barricades generally weigh approximately 50-58 lbs., depending on the model and foot configuration. Our popular F2-B-FF, for example, weighs approximately 58 lbs.

Our taller high-security barricades can weigh substantially more, with some models and configurations weighing approximately 78-100 lbs.

When comparing barricades, compare more than the advertised description and purchase price. Compare the actual weight, dimensions, construction and amount of steel in the product.

Heavy duty isn't just a label. The proof is in the weight.

How quickly can Friedrichs ship a barricade order?

Friedrichs generally maintains inventory of our popular F2 and FX-7 barricade models, and many in-stock orders can ship the same day.

Other models and special configurations, including taller high-security barricades such as the F-72, are generally made to order. Please contact us for current inventory and production lead times.

Delivery to most locations in the continental United States typically takes approximately 1-5 days after shipment. Transit time depends on the delivery location and freight carrier.

How are steel crowd control barricades shipped?

Most barricade orders are shipped by LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) freight carriers unless other arrangements are made. Standard commercial freight delivery typically assumes delivery to a commercial location equipped to receive freight.

Locations such as airports, camps, construction sites, country clubs, estates, farms, ranches, military bases, mine sites, storage facilities, power plants, schools, trade shows, universities and correctional facilities may be classified by freight carriers as limited-access locations and may be subject to additional freight charges.

Barricades normally ship assembled and ready to use. When receiving a freight shipment, inspect the order for visible damage. If damage is present, note it on the delivery receipt before signing and contact Friedrichs for instructions.

Can I track my barricade order or request delivery notifications?

Yes. Our commercial freight carriers provide shipment tracking. Customers can request tracking information after an order ships.

If you have your invoice or order number, you can also visit our order tracking page.

Delivery notifications or appointments can usually be requested from the freight carrier. Additional carrier charges may apply for these services.

What forms of payment does Friedrichs accept?

Friedrichs accepts checks, money orders, Visa, Mastercard and American Express. We also accept qualifying federal, state and local government purchase orders with NET 30 terms.

Commercial customers may apply for NET 30 terms with a credit application, credit references and an appropriate purchase order or contract. Account approval may require several business days.

What colors and finishes are available for steel crowd control barricades?

Our standard steel barricade finish is hot-dip galvanizing, which provides corrosion protection for long-term outdoor use.

The appearance of hot-dip galvanizing naturally varies. Some galvanized barricades may have a bright bluish-silver appearance, while others may have a duller gray or mottled finish. These appearance variations are normal, and the galvanized finish may vary between production runs or even among barricades within the same order.

Powder-coated finishes are also available as an additional option, subject to minimum quantities. Powder coating can be applied over the galvanized surface to provide both an attractive colored finish and the corrosion protection of galvanizing.

Please contact Friedrichs for current powder-coating options, minimum quantities and pricing.

Why use steel crowd control barricades instead of wooden barriers?

Reusable steel crowd control barricades are designed for organizations that regularly manage crowds and pedestrian traffic. Unlike temporary wooden barriers, galvanized steel barricades can provide years of repeated use when properly handled and maintained.

Police departments and public agencies throughout the country have used Friedrichs steel crowd control barricades for decades, including agencies that manage very large annual parades and public events.

For additional historical context, see this 2003 New York Times article about New York City's transition from wooden barriers to steel barricades.

Still Not Sure Which Barricade You Need?

Every crowd control application is different. Friedrichs can help you compare barricade models, lengths, heights, foot styles, coupling systems and quantities for your particular application.

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